Regulators to host utility wildfire readiness workshop mandated by 2025 legislation
The Kansas Corporation Commission will examine financial and grid risks as wildfires increase in destructiveness.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Regulators at the Kansas Corporation Commission are preparing to address mounting financial and infrastructure threats wildfires pose to the state's electric utilities, fulfilling a mandate set by state lawmakers this year.
The KCC will host a virtual workshop Friday, April 24, on wildfire risk, mitigation strategies, emergency response and cost recovery. The session was required by House Bill 2107, passed during the 2025 legislative session.
The KCC says wildfire-driven financial risks affect all types of electric utilities across the state, including investor-owned, cooperative and public power providers. The legislative directive for regulators to develop proactive strategies reflects a growing consensus at the Statehouse that the increasing frequency and destructiveness of wildfires require state-level planning to prevent utility insolvency or sharp rate increases.
The virtual event will feature presentations from national and local experts. The public can watch the proceedings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the KCC's YouTube channel.
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